clues at the scene

clues at the scene

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Stew

Lamb stew at left courtesy Magnus Manske.

I'm stewing tonight. I've got a story I need to jump on that I've been carrying the last few days.

Why the angst?

I have to get closer to the protagonist. Earlier drafts have come back from a critique group asking to be closer to the protagonist. They like her.

They don't know she's me in some form.

I made the character a youngish girl with the perspective of someone much older. Whose perspective did I have handy? Guess.

So, I'm stewing.

I'm wondering if any of you out there in authorland stew about your stories as well? I wonder if they fill you with angst at the fact you may end up losing a little control of the character if you indeed do "open the vein and bleed" Hemingway style?

So, there is a conglomeration of personalities to include in the protagonist. Instead of just stewing over the  plot contrivances, I'm also stewing over the protagonist's perspective.

Do any of you stew before launching into the story?

I'm off to write. This one has to move forward.

2 comments:

Elizabeth Spann Craig said...

I tend to stew when I'm getting ready for my day...but then I have to put it behind me or else insecurity will eat me and the story alive! Sounds like your protagonist is resonating with readers if your crit group wants to see even more!

jack welling said...

"insecurity will eat me and the story alive!"

You're reading from my queue card. Yours is the one of the left in blue - for "successful professional author." Mine's on the right in red for "neurotic obsessed ink spiller."